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Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition logoLink to Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
. 2004 Mar;89(2):F136–F138. doi: 10.1136/adc.2002.018390

Suppressive effects of breast milk on oxidative DNA damage in very low birthweight infants

H Shoji, T Shimizu, K Shinohara, S Oguchi, S Shiga, Y Yamashiro
PMCID: PMC1756038  PMID: 14977897

Abstract

Background: Human milk contains many kinds of antioxidant and is considered to prevent diseases mediated by oxygen free radicals in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants.

Aims: To examine the antioxidant effects of breast milk in VLBW infants by determining urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) excretion, which is known to be a non-invasive marker for in vivo oxidative DNA damage.

Methods: Urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were measured in 15 breast fed and 14 formula fed VLBW infants at 2, 7, 14, and 28 days of age.

Results: Urinary 8-OHdG excretion at 14 and 28 days of age was significantly lower than at 2 and 7 days of age in the breast fed group, and significantly lower than in the formula fed group.

Conclusion: This is the first direct evidence of the antioxidant action of human milk in VLBW infants.

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Figure 1 .

Figure 1

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Change in urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) excretion at 2, 7, 14, and 28 days of age in breast fed and formula fed very low birthweight infants. Values are mean (SD). *p<0.01 compared with 2 and 7 days.

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